Both Wisconsin and Ohio State should be in the NCAA Tourney, but it never hurts to put that one last stamp on the resume. Today was an opportunity for both to accrue another top-50 RPI victory, when they faced off against each other. The Buckeyes prevailed in a hard-fought battle which included several lead changes and a seven-point Badger lead with only five minutes left.The victory deadlocks the case for Ohio State, who is now 21-9. On the other hand, we've been assuming Wisconsin was safe. Can we still do so?
From the negative side of things, Wisconsin's won-loss record isn't exactly staggering at 19-12. The endured a pathetic six-game losing streak in the middle of conference season, but they rebounded by winning seven of their last nine regular season conference games. Their RPI should be around 40, and the strength of schedule plants them in the top 20. The main key for Wisconsin now is to hope all the bubble teams -- Penn State in their own conference, for example -- lose. If no upset winners take conference championship, the Badgers still have a good shot at making the Big Dance.
From the perspective of bubble teams across the nation, this was the wrong team to win. Had Ohio State lost, their case would have been much more flimsy than the one Wisconsin currently carries. It's too late for that now, though.
In this specific game, Evan Turner led the Buckeyes with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals -- cementing his pedigree as one of the conference's top players. Junior guard Trevon Hughes had a solid day for the Badgers with 15 points and 6 boards.
The real story is obviously the bubble impact, though, and clearly the Badgers are going to be holding their breath until Sunday evening.
